The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Rain fails to dampen patriotic zeal
Our Correspondent

Children dressed up as patriots raise the slogan, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” at a function on the eve of the Independence Day, in Evergreen Academy, Sector 34, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — Photo Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, August 14
Incessant rain could not disrupt cultural functions that were organised in various schools here on the eve of the Independence Day today. Braving the downpour, enthusiastic schoolchildren and teachers reached the venues on time to participate in the events.

A tree plantation drive was held in the Sector 25 Government Girls Secondary School, as part of which, the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, planted a neem sapling on the premises. Students of government schools presented group songs, poems and ‘giddha’ as part of a cultural function on the occasion. General Jacob asked the Chief Engineer to raise the level of the approach road to the school, so that, water did not accumulate there. The Advisor to Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda; the Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral; and Director Public Instructions (Schools), Mr D.S. Saroya, were also present on the occasion.

Children in traditional attires of various states participated in a function on the eve of the Independence Day, in the Sector 34 Evergreen Academy here today. The function began with the hoisting of the National Flag. The children also presented group songs and dances.

On the eve of the Independence Day, Vivek High School launched a campaign to create public awareness on the theme ‘Independence From Drugs’. Poster-making and slogan-writing competitions for students of Classes IV to XII were also organised on the occasion.

The National Flag was unfurled in the Sector 16 Blue Bird Model School today, after which, students presented various cultural items and received storybooks and gifts.

Students dressed up as national leaders marked the eve of the Independence Day in the Sector 26 Dutt Vishesh School. The cultural programme included group dances, group songs and tableaus created on the theme of freedom movement.

The Independence Day eve function began in the Sector 4 Satluj Public School of Panchkula with the unfurling of the National Flag by the Principal of the school, Mr Krit Serai. A colourful cultural programme was also presented on the occasion, which included groups songs, dances, poetry recitation and a play.

St Vivekanand Public School of Babhat held a cultural function on the eve of the Independence Day today. Student were taught about the freedom movement.

Various competitions of painting, poster-making, solo-singing, chart-making, cartoon-making, waste management and declamation were organised in the Sector 47 Mount Carmel School and the SAS Nagar branch of the school today. A cultural programme was also organised in the school as part of the function.

The Independence Day eve function in Doon Public School began with the unfurling of the National Flag by Brig Kuldip Singh, Chandpuri, MVC and hero of the battle of Longewala. An inter-house folk dance competition was also organised on the occasion and students read out patriotic speeches.

Children of Strawberry Fields school participated in a colourful function on the eve of the Independence Day today.

Flag-making marked the eve of the Independence Day in Ajit Karam Singh International Public School. The aim of the exercise was to motivate students to take part in community events. Sweets and National Flags were also distributed among students.

Sophia International School of Panchkula held a cultural function on the eve of the Independence Day today. It included group songs, skits, plays, histrionics, dances and fancy-dress competitions.

Children of Ankur Nursery School presented songs on the theme of national integration on the eve of the Independence Day. They also presented a ‘sawan dance’ on the occasion. The President of the school, Ms Pathak, presided over the function.

I love my India, chorus city kids
Monica Sharma

Chandigarh, August 14
Sultry weather, six hours of power cuts, erratic water supply, roads reduced to streets of cobbled stones, poor standard of living, political upheavals and Tehelka explosions — nothing seems to kill the feeling of patriotism among the school students. Despite the feeling of “disillusionment” among some of them after 53-years of Independence, the students still love their country.

Majority of the students spoken to just two days before the Independence Day, feel “India is the best”. Almost all of them plan to watch the live telecast on Doordarshan. Given a chance, they would like to go abroad for studies, but wish to come back to their motherland to serve their fellow countrymen.

“Standard of living is good in our country. There is sense of belongingness and complete social security. I love my country as I was born and brought up here. The prospects of growth are good and if one deserves one can succeed in India also. I might go for studies abroad but will come back to give my best to the country. While living abroad, one comes to know about the weak points of that country also. I would never like to settle abroad as India is the best,’’ says Aanchal, a Class XII student.

India is a developing country. The facilities being offered may not be at par with the developed countries. But I have faith in my country and want to give my best to the country, says Gurnoor, a Class XI student.

“I will join Army to serve my country”, she asserts. “When the Kargil War was on, I wanted to go to the border and shoot down the enemies. I believe that the young generation can bring about a revolution and make the country a better place to live in”, maintains Gurnoor.

Deepti, another Class XI student, is not attracted to the “glitter of the foreign land”. “India is the best place to be in because we are considered as aliens or second rate citizens in foreign countries. I would like to stay in my country and give in my best’’, she adds.

‘’India is a country where there is unity in diversity. Though our country has many flaws in its system, but still there are many positive points,” asserts Class XI student, Rimmy. ‘’I am deeply attached to my country and would never like to go abroad”, she asserts.

Being from an Army background, a Class XII student, Lovina, says, “I would like to join the Army. There are many who serve the country, but very few who die. I will celebrate Independence Day by watching programme related to how we got freedom. I will go abroad and compare the positive points of my country with other countries’’, she adds.

Claiming not to be a “die-hard patriotic”, a Class XII student, Sabeena, says, “I still wish the best for my country. But as far as going abroad is concerned, I want to go to some foreign country and pursue my goal as the same can not be fulfilled here”.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Order on Lok Pal report stayed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14
Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the order pronounced by it on May 14 whereby the state of Punjab was directed to place the report of the Lok Pal before the Punjab legislature in the ensuing session.

A former minister, Mr Lal Singh, had earlier filed a review petition against the orders pronounced by a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta, on the ground that he was not served a notice before the order was passed which had adversely affected him.

He also stated that the report of the Lok Pal, alongwith the extraordinary memorandum of the Governor in which the latter had found the reports to be invalid and violative of the rules of natural justice have already been placed before the legislature and, therefore, no further action was called for.

He had also stated that the Governor as a competent authority had found that before the submission of the report he was not given an opportunity to adduce evidence in support of the stand he had taken before the Lok Pal in his written statement.

A Division Bench had also held that an order passed by without hearing the party concerned is a nullity and the quashing of the report and special report is directly inter-linked with the quashing of the order dated May 14.

After hearing counsel for the petitioners, the court issued notice of motion to the non-petitioners and stayed the operation of the order dated May 14 whereby directions were given to place the report and the special report before the ensuing session. The court also stayed further proceedings regarding the report and the special report contained in the extraordinary memorandum of the Governor.

It is significant that after placing of the report and the extraordinary memorandum of the Governor on the table of the House on September 8, 1999, neither the state government, nor the legislature deemed it necessary to proceed in the matter.

There is nothing in Section 16 of the Lok Pal Act, 1996, which warrants after placing of the extraordinary memorandum of the Governor, any further action can be taken on the report or the special report.

The appointment of Justice Harbans Singh Rai was quashed by the High Court on November 4, 1999 on a petition filed by Mr Lal Singh and the Supreme Court has not stayed the operation of the order. Since then, Punjab is without a Lok Pal.

Life term convict acquitted

In a complete reversal of events, a Fatehgarh Sahib resident, accused of stabbing his wife and strangulating his daughter before throwing them into a canal in March 1993 with the help of his friends, was today acquitted of the charges framed against him by a Division Bench of the High Court.

Satinder Pal Singh of Raipur Rani village, and two other accused in the case, were earlier convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court. They were booked by the Punjab Police for murder and other offences under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code after Manjinder Kaur and her daughter were killed.

According to the prosecution, Satinder Pal Singh, accusing his wife of being characterless, had stabbed the victim in her chest. Another accused in the case had strangulated the daughter, the prosecution had added. It was further claimed that Satinder Pal Singh had inflicted injuries on his thigh to project the case as that of self defence.

The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence against them, had denied the allegations. Claiming themselves to be innocent, they had asked for a trial. The trial judge had, however, convicted the three for murder and other offences.

After hearing the arguments, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg, observed: “We are of the firm view that that arguments raised by counsel for the appellants are clearly borne out of the record and the conviction of the appellants cannot be sustained and the benefit of doubt must go to the appellants. The appeal is allowed and the appellants are acquitted of the charges framed against them”.

5 yrs RI for homicide

Converting a murder offence into culpable homicide not amounting to murder, a Division Bench of the High Court today sentenced a mother and daughter to five years rigorous imprisonment, instead of life. The two were accused of causing the death of a Faridabad resident in a quarrel over the uncovering of a manhole.

Veeran Devi and daughter Santosh were booked by the Haryana Police under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code after Hari Singh succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. The two, along with another accused, had attacked Hari Singh after his son had objected to the uncovering of a manhole. Hari Singh and his family were residing in the house opposite the residence of the accused, the prosecution had added. The trial court, after going through the evidence, had sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Pronouncing orders, Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg observed: “It is undisputed that there was no previous enmity between the two sides. There does not appear to be any motive to cause the death. It appears from the statement of prosecution witness, Harvinder Singh, that the quarrel started suddenly and was unexpected. For some unknown reason, the appellants had uncovered the manhole. It was natural that Harvinder Singh asked the appellants to keep the manhole covered. They did not agree to this and rather entered the house and gave beating to Harvinder Singh and his father, Hari Singh.”

The Judges concluded: “It was a sudden affair and the appellants did not have any intention to kill Hari Singh but they were fully aware that the injuries inflicted as such were likely to cause death. Therefore, the case of the appellants clearly falls under Section 304 (part II) of the IPC.”

Plea against pardon admitted
Our Legal Correspondent adds

A Division Bench of the High Court admitted a writ petition challenging the Haryana Government order of October 21, 1999, granting remission of sentence/pardon to Sat Parkash, a resident of Narwana (Jind) and Satbir Singh resident of Sonosar (Kurukshetra), convicted by the Supreme Court in a murder case. Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice Ashutosh Mohanta comprised the bench.

An FIR was registered in Thanesar police station for the murder of Jasbir Singh, a student of MA (Economics) of Kurukshetra University and son of petitioner Devi Ram. Additional Judge of the designated court of Kurukshetra acquitted the accused. The state of Haryana and the complainant filed an appeal in the Supreme Court which on July 9, 1999 sentenced the two accused to life imprisonment.

However, after coming to power Om Prakash Chautala government released the two accused when they had completed just two years of the sentence. The petitioner alleged that the father of one of the accused was district president of the Pehowa Indian National Lok Dal unit.